Sharing the history of Villa Cornér della Regina is an honour for us. The welcoming splendour of history made us fall in love with this place, but what truly amazed us was studying and discovering how this building has adapted to the eras its territory went through by evolving its function and its structure.
THE VILLA
FROM 1500 TO 1700
In the 16th century, after the discovery of the New World and the resulting shift of trade to the Atlantic Ocean, the Cornér, a noble Venetian family, abandoned trade in favour of a more peaceful life in which they enjoyed the wealth they had collected up to that moment. There are documents stating that, already in 1576, the bishop of Treviso Giorgio Cornér, during his pastoral visits, used to spend about a month in a “country house” in Cavasagra.
In an inventory drafted in 1638, Villa Cornér della Regina was described as a “three-sided Venetian house”, composed of a ground floor, a piano nobile (main floor) with a central hall flanked by four rooms. Today the only partly visible remainder of the 16th-century structure is the façade behind the Villa, while the plant has remained unchanged through the years.
THE VILLA
Sharing the history of Villa Cornér della Regina is an honour for us. The welcoming splendour of history made us fall in love with this place, but what truly amazed us was studying and discovering how this building has adapted to the eras its territory went through by evolving its function and its structure.
FROM 1500 TO 1700
In the 16th century, after the discovery of the New World and the resulting shift of trade to the Atlantic Ocean, the Cornér, a noble Venetian family, abandoned trade in favour of a more peaceful life in which they enjoyed the wealth they had collected up to that moment. There are documents stating that, already in 1576, the bishop of Treviso Giorgio Cornér, during his pastoral visits, used to spend about a month in a “country house” in Cavasagra.
In an inventory drafted in 1638, Villa Cornér della Regina was described as a “three-sided Venetian house”, composed of a ground floor, a piano nobile (main floor) with a central hall flanked by four rooms. Today the only partly visible remainder of the 16th-century structure is the façade behind the Villa, while the plant has remained unchanged through the years.
FROM 1700 TO 1900
In the first decade of the 18th century, Girolamo III wanted to embellish the Villa’s garden and commissioned to the sculptor Orazio Marinali a remarkable sculpture complex which had to reflect the idea of glorification of the family.
During the same century, the bishop of Castelfranco Veneto Giovanni Cornér entrusted the architects Giovanni Miazzi, Francesco Muttoni and Francesco Maria Preti with the transformation of Villa Cornér della Regina into a Country Palace: the Palladian influence of the majestic pronaos of the Villa is due precisely to the renovation wanted by the bishop. The barchesse (wings) and the lemon groves that gave the Villa the look that still characterises it today date back to this period.
Around 1810 the Villa was inherited by the Persico family, who contributed to the embellishment of the building with frescoes by Angelo Sala. On this occasion the central hall and the lead stained-glass windows were revisited in 19th-century style.
FROM 1700 TO 1900
In the first decade of the 18th century, Girolamo III wanted to embellish the Villa’s garden and commissioned to the sculptor Orazio Marinali a remarkable sculpture complex which had to reflect the idea of glorification of the family.
During the same century, the bishop of Castelfranco Veneto Giovanni Cornér entrusted the architects Giovanni Miazzi, Francesco Muttoni and Francesco Maria Preti with the transformation of Villa Cornér della Regina into a Country Palace: the Palladian influence of the majestic pronaos of the Villa is due precisely to the renovation wanted by the bishop. The barchesse (wings) and the lemon groves that gave the Villa the look that still characterises it today date back to this period.
Around 1810 the Villa was inherited by the Persico family, who contributed to the embellishment of the building with frescoes by Angelo Sala. On this occasion the central hall and the lead stained-glass windows were revisited in 19th-century style.
CATERINA CORNARO
One of the most famous figures of the Cornér family was Catherine Cornaro: born on November 25th, 1454 in Venice, daughter of Marco Cornaro and Fiorenza Crispo, she belonged to one of the most important families of the Serenissima. In July of 1468, at 14 years old, she married by proxy James II Lusignano, king of Cyprus and Armenia. The king died in 1473, leaving Catherine the control of the Eastern Mediterranean.
After the umpteenth conspiracy schemed by Catalan noblemen against the queen, in 1488 Catherine Cornaro was forced to abdicate in favour of the Republic of Venice, which welcomed her with a triumphal party on June 6th, 1489. She entered the city aboard the famous Bucintoro, the state galea of the doge. On that occasion, the doge Agostino Barbarigo named Catherine Cornaro Lady of Asolo and Castelfranco and preserved for her the title of queen.
During her “reign”, the queen surrounded herself with various artists, among them Giorgione and Pietro Bembo. She died on July 10th, 1510 in Venice.
CATERINA CORNARO
One of the most famous figures of the Cornér family was Catherine Cornaro: born on November 25th, 1454 in Venice, daughter of Marco Cornaro and Fiorenza Crispo, she belonged to one of the most important families of the Serenissima. In July of 1468, at 14 years old, she married by proxy James II Lusignano, king of Cyprus and Armenia. The king died in 1473, leaving Catherine the control of the Eastern Mediterranean.
After the umpteenth conspiracy schemed by Catalan noblemen against the queen, in 1488 Catherine Cornaro was forced to abdicate in favour of the Republic of Venice, which welcomed her with a triumphal party on June 6th, 1489. She entered the city aboard the famous Bucintoro, the state galea of the doge. On that occasion, the doge Agostino Barbarigo named Catherine Cornaro Lady of Asolo and Castelfranco and preserved for her the title of queen.
During her “reign”, the queen surrounded herself with various artists, among them Giorgione and Pietro Bembo. She died on July 10th, 1510 in Venice.
FROM 1900 TO 2000
During the last two centuries, Villa Cornér della Regina has experienced many owners: from the Persico, to the Frova, to the Donà delle Rose. During World War I it became the headquarters of general Enrico Caviglia, commander of the 8th and 10th army: general Caviglia ordered to cut down the trees of the boulevards north and south of the Villa to build fortifications and trenches on the Piave and Monte Grappa fronts.
In 1968 Sir Stafford Sands, former Governor of the Bahamas, bought Villa Cornér della Regina, restored it and built a swimming pool with hydromassage and tennis courts. Towards the end of the 20th century, the Donà delle Rose counts transformed the Villa in a Country Hotel.
FROM 1900 TO 2000
During the last two centuries, Villa Cornér della Regina has experienced many owners: from the Persico, to the Frova, to the Donà delle Rose.
During World War I it became the headquarters of general Enrico Caviglia, commander of the 8th and 10th army: general Caviglia ordered to cut down the trees of the boulevards north and south of the Villa to build fortifications and trenches on the Piave and Monte Grappa fronts.
In 1968 Sir Stafford Sands, former Governor of the Bahamas, bought Villa Cornér della Regina, restored it and built a swimming pool with hydromassage and tennis courts. Towards the end of the 20th century, the Donà delle Rose counts transformed the Villa in a Country Hotel.
TODAY
From 1994 to 2002 Villa Cornér della Regina remained closed, causing a slow decay of the whole building.
In February 2002 the Villa was bought by a company from Treviso which immediately started the restoration work with the goal of bringing it back to its former splendour. In the first decades of the 20th century all the interior decorations were covered by overpainting, but thanks to the restoration the ancient marmorino was brought to light and the brightness of 18th-century colours was revived.
The restoration also refurbished the pool area and the secular park. Today Villa Cornér della Regina offers its setting for weddings and cultural and private events. In May 2012, with the end of the renovation of the suites, the Villa reopens as an Hotel.
TODAY
From 1994 to 2002 Villa Cornér della Regina remained closed, causing a slow decay of the whole building.
In February 2002 the Villa was bought by a company from Treviso which immediately started the restoration work with the goal of bringing it back to its former splendour. In the first decades of the 20th century all the interior decorations were covered by overpainting, but thanks to the restoration the ancient marmorino was brought to light and the brightness of 18th-century colours was revived.
The restoration also refurbished the pool area and the secular park. Today Villa Cornér della Regina offers its setting for weddings and cultural and private events. In May 2012, with the end of the renovation of the suites, the Villa reopens as an Hotel.
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